Page 25

The original mushroom was strung with lanterns and there were torches, but there was also a great deal of bioluminescence, which made for a very pretty setting.

Buffet tables had been brought in and some additional seating. The stage was set up and a quartet of goblins was playing fanciful string instruments.

Julep was wearing a copper colored dress with velvet cuffs.

The late spring night was chilly, so she brought a white fur coat which was snuggly and lined with silk.

It was the most decadent thing she had ever owned, and she loved it to death.

Artur had surprised her with it after they made their marriage official.

That had been an excellent decision, she thought smugly. She hooked her arm into Artur's and smiled up at him, giving him an extra squeeze.

He smiled slyly at her. “You seem happy.”

“You've made me happy,” she said simply

He made a male sound of appreciation. “We can always skip the party and go home. I'm sure I can find ways to make you even happier.”

She giggled. “Later. We just got here, and I'm looking forward to the music.”

“Dancing can be fun,” he said agreeably.

She craned her neck, and finally spotted In’shi and her husband, Slaughter. “There's our friends!”

The ladies started chatting. The men were catching up, when suddenly Julep squealed. “Really? You're pregnant? That's wonderful! When are you due?”

“I-In about seven months,” In’shi said bashfully. “We agreed not to foster the child.” She put a protective hand on her belly and shot a quick look at her husband. “T-the baby will most likely be a powerful mage. We don't want another family to ruin the child.”

Her husband looked both fond and tolerant.

“It's not a question of ruining , but yes, the child will be raised at home.” He looked at Artur.

“My mother-in-law is also pregnant again,” he said dryly.

Her first child had been conceived before the woman had married her current husband.

She now had two young children, with this one on the way.

Fortunately, her husband was a pragmatic goblin. He would raise all of the children to be sensible and hard-working, and use them to the best of advantage of the family.

“I-I had a miscarriage with the first one,” In'shi said softly, “but this one is going much more smoothly. Except for the morning sickness, of course. I'm hardly able to eat these days.”

They'd gone through the buffet line as they talked. Julep looked guiltily at her heaping plate of food.

“D-don't worry about it,” In'shi laughed. I'll make up for it when the baby's born.”

“Ooh, you get to make baby clothes! I've been making some for baby Bam Bam. It's so much fun, and now we can make some for you!”

“Congratulations,” Artur told his friend as the ladies chatted. “You seem to have made your wife very happy. Are you hoping for a boy or girl? There are advantages either way.”

“There are. It usually works out 50/50 anyway. I expect there'll be more eventually, so it's not important. How are your own fosterlings working out?”

The dancing started. The ladies put their coats aside as their husbands led them onto the floor.

Julep was so happy. She couldn't remember a more perfect night. Artur was an excellent dancer, and his smile was warm and possessive. He glowed with pleasure, and it was all because of her. It was a wonderful feeling.

She was still feeling mellow as she sipped a glass of cider, idly listening to Artur chatting with some business associates. Her friend had gone home, and it was getting late.

“Hello, Madam Julep. I don't believe we've been introduced,” a goblin said pleasantly from behind her. He was medium height, with average Goblin features, balding a little, but very thick and muscular. He was wearing a nice suit and a large number of gold rings.

Artur was at her side in a flash. “Zul Kan. I'm surprised to see you here. I wouldn't have thought this was your sort of party.”

“True, but I couldn't resist when I heard that you were here...with your lovely wife .” He made the word sound slimy somehow, and vaguely threatening.

Artur’s smile had a lot of teeth, like a rabid badger. “How sociable of you. I would have thought that you would be too busy nursing your brother back to health.”

Zul Kan's smile was thin. “I'm not much of a nurse maid. I've always been better at dealing out the pain.” He looked at Julep and smiled, slow and wide, like a predator about to bite.

“Are you ready to cross lines?” Artur said savagely. “Say it, and I will drown the city in blood.”

“Artur, Zul Kan. Did I hear something about blood? I’ll be very offended if I'm not invited.” General Yal seemed to have appeared from nowhere. In reality, he probably had his eye out for trouble.

He looked at Julep. “Madam. My wife would like a word with you, if you don't mind. She feels concerned that all this rough talk might be annoying you. She's invited you to join her for a glass of wine.”

“An excellent idea,” Artur replied for her. “It would be rude not to visit with her.”

Julep gave him a knowing look, but let herself be sent away. There was nothing she could do to help Artur, and she was not enjoying herself.

“Are you all right?” Ashi asked as Julep joined her on the side of the dance floor.

Julep gave her an incredulous look.

Ashi handed her a glass of wine. “I understand. It's difficult to watch them do this. I learned it's best to stay out of the way. They're like fighting dogs. You'll only get bitten if you try to interfere.”

“I owe you an apology, by the way. I meant to talk to you after school that day and got caught up with scolding my husband. I regret not being supportive.”

Julep finally looked away from the men. “What do you...oh. You scolded the general for talking about...” She didn't want to elaborate, so she just waved her hand.

“I told him it was harsh. Unfortunately, he disagreed with me. I'm afraid I will never understand men.” She looked rueful. “At least they seem to be finished now.”

Julep spun around. She scanned her husband, but he seemed undamaged.

Artur smiled. “Thank you, my dear. I appreciate your patience. Are you ready to go home now?”

She waited until they were in the carriage before she looked at him for explanations.

“He was posturing, because he was upset about his brother. We made him look bad.”

“Yal reminded him that he doesn't want to disturb the peace, because it would bring everyone down on his head. Most likely, he'll stick to his usual underhanded warfare.”

He took her hand. “Mostly it's business as usual. We'll just take more precautions. For one thing, your security will be more visible. I just wanted to give you time in the beginning, to get used to having it.”

She sighed. “Being your wife does have interesting challenges. She patted his leg. “It's all right.”

“You're not frightened?”

“Well, I don't like it, but I understand. There are worse things.”

“Best wife ever,” he said proudly. “If I knew what I was getting, I would have been a lot happier about the ditch.”

“Hm. What did you mean about his brother? You did something to him?”

“We had to retaliate for Rooster. If we let it go, he would come back at us even harder. It's a balancing act.”

“You make it sound like warring nations.”

“That's not a bad analogy. Anyway, how did you like your night otherwise? Sounded as if you had plans with In’shi.”

Julep was happy to think about other things. Fun things. The less she worried about her husband's bloody business affairs, the better.